- Minister for Regional Development
Businesses and regional communities around Horsham now have access to faster and more reliable broadband services with the launch of the Andrews Labor Government's enhanced broadband network across the region.
Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes today launched the Horsham Enhanced Broadband network at Horsham-based farm equipment machinery franchise Emmetts.
The Labor Government provided $1.7 million for Victorian-based Spirit Telecom to build the upgraded broadband network, with speeds of up to one gigabit per second, as part of its $45 million Connecting Regional Communities Program.
Operating across Horsham, Swan Hill, Rupanyup, Warracknabeal and parts of South Australia, Emmetts is one of the first businesses to sign up to Spirit's new broadband network. The local company now has dramatically faster broadband speeds with fewer dropouts, boosting their business across regional Victoria and beyond.
These increased speeds will also be available to homes across Horsham, giving the entire community the opportunity to experience internet services on par with those in metropolitan Melbourne and interstate, bridging the digital divide and improving connectivity for people living and working in the regions.
Boosting broadband is integral for businesses across regional Victoria, making them more competitive globally and helping promote further investment across our regional centres.
As part of the digital infrastructure investments in the Connecting Regional Communities Program, the Labor Government is also supporting the Mobile Blackspot Program, adoption of internet for on-farm technologies, a state-wide Digital Economy Plan and digital plans for each Regional Partnership.
The Government has also invested $16.7 million to provide free public WiFi in Ararat and Latrobe Valley after similar investments for Ballarat and Bendigo.
As noted by Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
"Country Victoria deserves access to fast, reliable broadband to support farmers, help businesses grow and make our country communities even better places to live and work."
